Dream vs. Mystics preview: Atlanta looks to close out Washington in Game 2

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Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42) in action against the Los Angeles Sparks in the first quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Dream vs. Mystics

Dream vs. Mystics Preview: The Atlanta Dream can close out their first-round series against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday when the two teams meet for Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Atlanta took Game 1 92-77 on Sunday, forcing 22 turnovers and setting a franchise playoff record with 16 steals in the win.

The fourth-seeded Dream are trying to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, their most recent trip in three career Finals appearances. Atlanta has lost in the first round in each of its past three playoff appearances. The No. 5 seed Mystics are making their first playoff trip since 2023 and are chasing their first postseason win since they won the title in 2019.

Dream vs. Mystics game information

  • Date: Wednesday, Sept. 30
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Location: Washington, D.C.
  • Series: Atlanta leads first-round series 1-0

Dream outlook: Howard and Gray carried the Game 1 comeback

Atlanta trailed by 11 points in the first half of Game 1 before rallying behind Rhyne Howard, who finished with 26 points and five steals on 7-of-18 shooting. She went a perfect 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. Allisha Gray added 22 points, and Jordin Canada ran the offense with 10 points and 11 assists.

Angel Reese posted 13 points and 12 rebounds in her first career playoff game despite making just 4 of 15 shots from the field. DeWanna Bonner provided a spark off the bench, scoring 11 of her 13 points during an 18-5 run that pushed the lead to 61-48 with 2:29 left in the third quarter.

Dream coach Karl Smesko credited that stretch for settling his team down after a nervy start. “I think the second half, Karl settled us down,” Bonner said of Atlanta’s slow start. Smesko was careful not to look past Game 2. “This is just round one,” Smesko said. “We feel good about how we set the tone for the first game, but there is a lot more work to be done and I think everyone in our locker room is aware of that.”

Mystics outlook: Citron’s scoring wasn’t enough behind 22 turnovers

Sonia Citron led Washington with 25 points in the loss. The Mystics could never overcome 22 turnovers that Atlanta converted into 27 points. Kiki Iriafen finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds, nine of them on the offensive glass, while Shakira Austin added 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Washington actually built an 8-0 run early after Howard opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just 22 seconds in, with Iriafen scoring four points and Georgia Amoore hitting from behind the arc. The Mystics led by 41-36 at halftime before Atlanta’s third-quarter surge flipped the game.

Citron pointed to a defensive letdown after halftime as the turning point. “In the first half we did a good job of just making everything hard for them and then in that third quarter we just let some of our discipline slip,” Citron said. Iriafen said the experience should help going into Game 2. “It was our first time being here, not that that’s an excuse, but now we know what it looks like. We have a taste for it. We’ll be better prepared for our game on Wednesday,” Iriafen said.

Key matchup: Atlanta’s ball pressure vs. Washington’s turnover problem

The series opener came down to takeaways. Atlanta’s 16 steals set a franchise playoff record, two shy of the WNBA postseason mark of 18 set by Indiana in 2009, and the Dream turned Washington’s 22 turnovers into 27 points. If that pressure carries over to Wednesday, the Mystics will need to find a way to protect the ball against a defense that thrives on disruption.

Washington’s counter is its size on the interior. Iriafen and Austin combined for 30 rebounds in Game 1, with Austin alone pulling down 16 boards in 34 minutes. If the Mystics can control the glass and limit live-ball turnovers, they can slow the transition opportunities that fueled Atlanta’s third-quarter run.

Players to watch

Rhyne Howard, Dream guard

Howard was the best player on the floor in Game 1, scoring 26 points to go with five steals in 39 minutes. She struggled with her shot at times, going 7 of 18 from the field and 2 of 7 from 3-point range, but made all 10 of her free throws. Washington will look to make her work harder for those attempts in Game 2.

Sonia Citron, Mystics guard

Citron was Washington’s most consistent scorer in the opener, finishing with a team-high 25 points. With the Mystics facing elimination, her production needs support from a supporting cast that combined for 22 turnovers as a team in Game 1.

Angel Reese, Dream forward

Reese shot just 4 of 15 from the field in her first career playoff game. Her rebounding presence alongside Bonner gave Atlanta a second wave on the boards, and a more efficient shooting night would make the Dream tougher to slow down.

What to watch in Dream vs. Mystics Game 2

Washington needs a victory Wednesday just to force a decisive Game 3. The Mystics have not won a playoff game since their 2019 championship season, and avoiding a similar 22-turnover output will be central to keeping that drought going or ending it.

Watch for whether Washington can slow Atlanta’s transition attack, which turned live-ball mistakes into 27 points in Game 1. Bonner’s bench scoring and Canada’s playmaking gave the Dream a second and third scoring option beyond Howard and Gray, and Atlanta will look to lean on that depth again on the road.

Reporting from FOX Sports, CBS Sports, The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this story.